Production of typographical slugs



Sept. 29, 1936. c, A, ALBRECHT PRODUCTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL s ues Filed June 5, 1935 "Iii Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRODUCTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL SLUGS Application June 3, 1935, Serial No. 24,627 In Germany June 5, 1934 3 Claims.

In typographical slug-casting machines, it has already been proposed to produce long slugs by casting a number of slug sections of normal length and assembling the sections together end to end in order to form a single slug. When such slugs are cast from very large matrices, dimculties arise in fitting one slug-section to another, as it is impracticable to justify all the sections of the matrix line to the exact length of the 1 individual slug sections. To overcome this disadvantage, it has already been proposed to em.- ploy a matrix-line supporting frame or holder of sufiicient length to accommodate a long matrix line from which a plurality of slug sec- '55 tions are to be cast, and to separate the respective matrix-line sections in the holder by inserting blank matrices between said sections. This holder, with the long matrix-line thus assembled therein, is then intermittently moved 20 to bring the matrix-line sections successively into casting relationship with the mold, the slugs being cast by reason of the blank matrices located between the matrix-line sections, with overhanging type faces and blank spaces at the ends which are in contact when the slug-sections are assembled, the overhanging type-face on one slug section then overlapping the blank space on the adjacent slug section.

This procedure, however, can only be adopted in connection with a particular type of slugcasting machine in which there is suificient space to allow the matrix-line holder containing all the matrix-line sections to be moved in a longitudinal direction with reference to the mold.

5 The object of the present invention is to obtain a like result on machines in which there is insuilicient space for longitudinal movement of a long matrix-line holder such as that just described. For this purpose, according to the invention, the procedure followed is to compose the whole of the long line of matrices in a supporting or assembling frame, which is preferably provided with a longitudinal scale, and to remove the matrix-line sections of appropriate length from the assembling frame, in proper sequence, and insert such sections into a hand-composing stick by which the matrices are supported in the casting machine in casting relation to the mold. For the first matrix-line section removed from the assembling frame, the number of matrices selected must always make up a length exactly equal to or slightly longer than the length of the slug-section to be cast, the last matrix of the section to satisfy this requirement being determined by reference to the scale on the assembling frame. line section is of the exact length required, the same procedure as that just described may be followed for the selection of the second matrixline section. If, however, the first section is slightly longer than the required length, the second section must be made up to the required length or slightly longer, according to the position of the last matrix thereof with reference to the scale, by inserting blank matrices in the hand-composing stick, as hereinafter more fully described. The size of the blank matrices to be inserted can be determined by reference to the scale on the assembling frame.

The method according to the invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure l is an elevation of one constructional form of assembling frame with a long matrix line assembled therein;

Figure 2 is an elevation of one form of hand composing stick with the first matrix-line section supported therein; the relative position of the casting mold being diagrammatically indicated;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the second matrix-line section;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the hand composing stick showing the adjustment for accommodating a different form of matrix-line section, and

Figures 2a, 3a, 4a, show slug-sections cast with the adjustments according to Figures 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

In the example illustrated, it is assumed that a slug is to be produced from a matrix line of a total length of 90 ems by the casting of three slug sections each measuring 30 ems in length. The matrices are inserted in the assembling frame a which is similar in form to known hand composing sticks and is provided with an end member b for supporting the matrices laterally. The longitudinal portion 0 of the frame has a scale graduated in ems. The length of the first section which must be selected from the matrix line illustrated, is indicated by the dot-and-dash line (1, as there is no matrix determining the exact length of 30 ems and the length selected must therefore be slightly more than 30 ems.

It may be ascertained from the assembling frame scale that the excess length of the line section is typographical points. As the casting slot of the mold is only 30 ems long, the slug section will be cast, in known manner, with a portion 0 of the type face overhanging the end When the first matrixof the slug body to the extent of 10 points, as illustrated in Figure 2a. During the casting operation, and in a manner known per se, the matrix-line section is supported in a hand-composing stick such as e (Figure 2), in which the length and relative position of the mold slot g is indicated in broken lines.

The removal of the second matrix-line section from the assembling frame a is then proceeded with, a length being selected which either terminates exactly at the 60 em mark of the scale (as in the example chosen), or extends slightly beyond that mark. The selected line section is then placed in the hand composing stick with blank matrices f at its leading end of a length value, in this case 10 points, equal to the amount by which the preceding line section exceeded the required length of 30 ems. The line section thus supported in the hand stick 6 in relation to the mold slot g is represented in Figure 3, and it will be understood that the slug section cast therefrom will have the form shown in Figure 3a presenting a blank section it at its leading end corresponding to the overhanging portion 0 of the preceding slug section while the opposite end of the slug body will be flush with the type face.

As previously mentioned, if the second matrixline section could not be selected to terminate exactly at the 60 em mark of the assembling frame scale, a matrix extending slightly beyond that scale mark would have to be taken as the last matrix of the section. In that case as shown in Figure 4, the matrix line would be so positioned in the hand stick with reference to the casting slot that the slug section, shown in Figure 4a, would be cast with a blank space h at one end to be overlapped by the projection 0 of the first slug section, and an overhanging portion m at the other end which would overlap a corresponding blank space on a third slug section. The produc tion of the third slug section is effected in a similar manner. If a matrix-line section coincides exactly with the required length of slug body it is obvious that the introduction of blank matrices at the commencement of the next matrix-line section will not be needed.

It will be understood that the number of line sections employed to form one complete line may be varied according to requirements. For example, they may be selected as above described according to the size of the mold in use, or they may be selected of different lengths for the casting of slug sections in molds which have casting slots of different lengths.

As stated, it is preferable to provide the as sembling frame with a scale so as to be able to determine quickly the amount by which the matrices removed exceed the length of the mold slot. It is possible, however, to dispense with the scale and simply to mark the length of the line sections, so that after a line section has been removed its length can be measured in a special device.

Having described my invention I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. Method of producing a typographical slug wherein a plurality of slug-sections for endwise assembly are cast from a corresponding plurality of matrix-line sections, characterized by the steps of composing the complete matrix line, selecting sections thereof in sequence, the first of which is not less in length than the length of the mold slot in which the respective slug-section is to be cast, transferring said matrix-line sections successively to a composing stick in which they are sustained in casting relation to a mold and inserting a blank matrix in the composing stick at the leading end of any matrix-line section succeeding another whose length exceeds that of the respective mold slot, the length value of such blank matrix being equal to the said excess length.

2. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1, including an assembling frame in which the complete matrix line as thus to be reproduced on the final slug is composed, said frame being provided with a scale indicating the actual lengths of the mold slot in which the slug sections are to be cast.

3. Method of producing a typographical slug wherein a plurality of slug-sections for endwise assembly are cast from a corresponding plurality of matrix-line sections, characterized by the steps of composing the complete matrix line, selecting sections thereof in sequence, the first of which is not less in length than the length of the mold slot in which the respective slug-section is to be cast, transferring said matrix-line sections successively to a composing stick in which they are sustained in casting relation to a mold, and inserting a blank matrix in the composing stick at the leading end of any matrix-line section succeeding another which including a blank matrix used therewith exceeds the length of the respective mold slot.

CHRISTIAN AUGUSTUS ALBRECHT. 

